Padlock



1MM Wil, 3195@ J. F. J. VICKEWSS PADLOCK Filed Sept. 5, 194:7

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 .olin P. I.- Vickers,` Dartmouth, Nova Scta, (Editada:

pplcaton September 5, 1947,-- Serial o.- '272,251

Il Oil-aim;

My invention relates to improvements ln padlocks. Y

Ail important object or the invention is to provide a padlock having means for locking a plurality of articles simultaneously;

A further object of the invention is to provide a padlock having rl'ovel nie'ans to' eliminate the possibility of closing. the' lock shackle, while the saine is' out of registration with` the shackle opening.

A further object ls to provide a lock which is convenient to' use in the dark; because the look shackle cannot be closed without properly engaging Within the s'l'iackleA opening..

A further object is to provide a riacllockV having a seamless cylindrical' body; well adapted' to be made from metal tllblfig'.

A sti-ll` further object ls to provide a superior padlok of" simple and durable design, which may be manufactured ascheaply as other conventional types of padlocks.

other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following deseription.A 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this' application, and inl which like numerals aref employed to designate like" parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevatri of a padlock ernbodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a central vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, parts in elevation,

Figure 4 is a similar section showing the shackle in the open or unlocked position,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a modification of the invention.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is called first to Figures l to 5, inclusive, wherein the numeral Ill designates the casing or body of the padlock. This casing Ill is preferably cylindrical, and well adapted to be made from metal tubing, or bar stock. The body or casing I0 has a central axial bore II formed in its bottom end, and this bore I! leads into a reduced cylindrical bore I2, forming an annular shoulder or seat I3. The top of the casing is recessed to provide an annular groove I 4. Also formed in the bottom of the casing and spaced radially outwardly from the central bore II, is a longitudinal cylindrical recess or bore I5, within which is rigidly mounted a convertionaly key controlled lock Yoperating mechanism I6. The bore' I5 extends longitudinally Of the casing Il), parallel to the bore II, and terminates near' the longitudinal center of the casing.

The `key controlled lock operating mechanism I6 includes ari outer cylindrical barrel I'I, rigidly mounted Within the b'or I5; and a plunger' 8, rotatably mounted Withinthe barrel. The plunger i8 is turned upon its horizontal axis by a suitable ke'y I9, received in a longitudinal. key openingfin the plunger; The key operates tumble'rswithin the plunger, and not shown on the drawing', to rotate said plunger; This is a con ventiorial lock operating mechanism, as stated. Trie plunger la includes: an inner shoulder' or disc 20, having rigidly inoun'ted thereon, at one side of the. same,4 an upstanding projection or pin 2l This pin 2l" prdjects into an opening 22, foriin'g" an innermost portion of the bore I5 and l'laling` a straight side 23, forming a lateral shoulder. When the plunger I8" is turned by the key, the pin 2l will turn with it and move from the position shown in Figure 5, toward the shoulderA 23.

Slideably iiiollnted Within a radial recess or opening 24, and. disposed` above the opening 22 is a looltY or keeper 25.l This keeper has a lower transverse prjetil 26A,.iteldiigfint th-openingV 22, and adapted' to be engaged by the pin 2l for moving the keeper. The keeper recess 24 and keeper 25 have their longitudinal axes arrangedl at right angles to the axis of the bore I5, and the inner end of the recess 24 leads into the casing bore I2. The outer end of the radial ren cess 24 terminates near the outside of the casing III. An expandible coil spring is disposed within the outer portion of the recess 24, and engages against the outer end of the keeper 25 to urge the same radially inwardly.

Slideably mounted Within the bore I2 is the center longitudinal stem or shank 28 of a lock shackle 29. The shackle 29 includes a plurality of, and preferably three shackle arms 30, which are preferably equidistantly angularly spaced, see Figure 2. These arms 3Il are joined at their inner ends to the shank 28, and are integral therewith. The outer longitudinal portions 30 of the shackle arms are adjacent to the annular groove 4, and adapted to enter the same when the lock shackle is closed, Figure 3. The shank 28 has an annular groove 3l near its longitudinal center, to receive the inner end of the keeper 25 when the shackle 29 is closed. The shank 28 extends into the bore II, and carries an end disc or head 32, to engage the annular shoulder I3 to limit the opening movement of the shackle, Figure 4. An end plate 33 is rigidly mounted within the outer end of the bore Il, and flush with the bottom of the casing i9. An expandible coil spring 34 is mounted upon the end plate 33, and engages the head 32 to urge the shackle 29 upwardly toward its open position.

In use, one or more articles may be locked under the arms 33. When it is desired to open the lock, the key i9 is turned, turning the plunger iS and pin 2l. The pin 2i pushes the projection `25 and keeper 25 to the right, in Figure 3, and the keeper moves out of the groove 3|. When this occurs, the shackle 29 snaps upwardly to its open position, Figure 4. If the key is turned while the shackle 29 is open, so that the spring 21 can move the keeper inwardly against the shank 23, the keeper will automatically enter the groove 3 i when the shackle is again closed. The shackle 29 may be turned upon its longitudinal axis, but the shackle arms 3G cannot move out of registration with the groove i4. The lock will, therefore, properly close any time the shackle is pushed inwardly.

in Figure 6, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, wherein individual shackle arm receiving` openings 14a are formed in the top of the casing i0, instead of the annular groove I4, of the rst form of the invention. All other parts and. their functions, in this form of the invention are identical with those shown and `described in connection with the rst form thereof. In Figure 6, the arms 3l] must enter the openings illa to close the lock, and the lock cannot be closed until the arms 30 register with the openings Ilia.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the Shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, vwhat I claim is:

A padlock, comprising va cylindrical body having a central axial bore including 4an enlarged bottom portion forming a shoulder and an annular groove in one end surrounding the bore and substantially concentric therewith, an axially shiftable shackle shank mounted within the central axial bore and provided near its inner end with a head, said head being disposed within the enlarged portion of the bore and adapted to engage the shoulder to limit the outward movement of the shackle shank, the shackle shank being provided between its ends with an annular groove, a spring disposed within the central axial bore inwardly of the shackle shank and engaging the inner end oi the shank to urge it outwardly toward its open position, a plurality of angularly spaced radial arms secured to the outer end of the shackle shank and having parts to engage in the annular groove of the body when the shackle shank is shifted inwardly to its closed position, the shackle shank being turnable upon its 1ongitudinal axis in the open and closed position, the cylindrical body having a radial passage between its ends and leading into the central axial bore and an axial opening parallel to the central axial bore and spaced radially outwardly thereof and leading into the radial passage, a bolt mounted Within the radial passage and having a lateral extension projecting into the axial opening, a spring within the radial passage and behind the bolt to urge the bolt into the annular groove of the shackle shank, and a key operated plunger mounted within the axial opening and rotatable upon its longitudinal axis and having an eccentric element at its inner. end adjacent to the lateral extension of the'bolt, the eccentric element engaging the' lateral extension when the key operated plunger is turned for shifting the bolt out of the annular groove of the shackle shank.

JOHN P. J. VICKERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

